With all votes tallied, unofficial results show Diana Martinez Alexander and Michael Moore heading to a runoff election in May in the Democratic primary race for Harris County Precinct 3 commissioner.
Martinez Alexander finished election night on top with 27.06% of the votes, or 16,472 votes, while Moore finished with 26.44% of the votes, or 16,092 votes. Kristi Thibaut finished in third with 22.57% of the votes.
Republican Tom Ramsey avoided a runoff election in his primary race against Branda Stardig and Susan Sample, finishing with 70.53% of the votes, or 40,472 votes.
Updated 11:15 p.m.
Three Democrats remain in a close race for Harris County Precinct 3 commissioner with 268 out of 401 voting centers reporting on election night March 3.
If no candidate finishes with more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a runoff in May. As of 11 p.m., Michael Moore and Diana Martinez Alexander were in position to move into a runoff election with 28.37% of the vote and 26.42% of the vote, respectively. Kristi Thibaut remains in the mix with 22.88% of the vote, a total 9,522 votes compared to Moore's 11,808 votes and Alexander's 10,996.
In the Republican primary, Tom Ramsey maintained the strong lead he built in early voting and will move on to the November general election without a runoff.
With votes in from 317 of 401 voting centers, Ramsey has 71.06% of the vote. Brenda Stardig is in second place with 16.22%, Susan Sample has 12.72%
Ramsey, who has served as mayor of Spring Valley Village since 2012, ran on a platform of keeping neighborhoods safe, improving and maintaining infrastructure and keeping taxes reasonable and affordable. He boasted endorsements from retiring Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack, whom he hopes to replace, and current Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle.
In a previous interview with Community Impact Newspaper, Ramsey said he was concerned about the Harris County Commissioners Court becoming too liberal.
"Commissioner Radack’s retirement this year creates a dangerous opening for liberals to seize even further control of the court," he said. "I believe that my years of experience in [Precinct] 3 as an engineer, successful business owner and Mayor of Spring Valley has effectively prepared me to address the priority needs of the county ... safe neighborhoods, infrastructure and reasonable tax rate."
Prior to his retirement announcement in December, Radack had served as commissioner in Precinct 3 since first being elected in 1988.
This story will continue to be updated as results come in. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted 7:28 p.m.
With early voting results in, Tom Ramsey has taken a strong lead in the Republican primary for Harris County Precinct 3 commissioner as the Democratic race appears likely to head to a runoff election.
Ramsey leads the Republican primary with 73.34% of the votes, or 24,245 votes. Meanwhile, candidates Michael Moore and Diana Martinez Alexander are on top in the Democratic primary with 29.59% and 26.41% of the votes, respectively. Kristi Thibaut is in third place with 21.87% of the votes.
If no candidate in a primary election receives more than 50% of the votes, the top two candidates will compete in a runoff election that will take place in May. In terms of total votes, Moore has earned 7,831, Alexander has earned 6,989 and Thibaut has earned 5,789.
On the Republican side, Brenda Stardig is in second place with 15.52% of the votes, and Susan Sample is in third with 11.14% of the votes.
The remaining vote tallies on the Democratic side are Morris Overstreet with 10.59% of the votes; Erik "Beto" Hassan with 7.58%; and Zaher Eisa with 3.97%.
In primary elections, Texas voters who register with either the Democratic or Republican party can choose which candidates they think should represent that party on ballots during the November general election, including in the race for U.S. president, the U.S. senator seat occupied by Sen. John Cornyn and a number of other national, state and local races.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
